Foot-rest.



P. G. TATE.

' FOOT REST. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1908.

Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 00., .WAS'HINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FETGE.

FRANK G. TATE, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

FOOT-3.3541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. TATE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Des Moines, county of Folk, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Tm rovement in Foot-Rests, of wl'iich the fol owing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient and easily operated foot rest for a reclinin chair which, when not in use, may be withdrawn from in front of the chair and effectually and completely hidden under the seat thereof.

A further object is to provide a hinged part for the opening in front of the chair, through which the foot rest passes, which will be automatically opened and held open by the foot rest when it is projected outwardly, and which will be automatically closed when tl'ie foot rest is drawn to its position under the chair.

A further object is to provide such a hinged portion in the front of the chair as will be adapted to form a support for the knees of the person reclining, when the foot rest is projected outwardly.

My invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which l 'gure I shows a perspective view of the front portion of a chair provided with my foot rest; II shows a sectional view taken on the line 22 in Fig. III and Fig. III shows a side elevation of the chair, partially in section and provided with. my foot rest.

Referrlng to the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 10 is used to indicate a chair, of any of the ordinary reclining type, provided in its forward portion with an orifice or opening 11, said opening extending almost the complete distance across the chair, as clearly shown in Fig. I.

The numeral 12 indicates an upholstered strip, swingingly mounted, by means of the u holstering, to the forward portion of the 0 air and designed as a covering for the opening 11. On the rear surface of the said strip 12 are lugs 13 and 14, one mounted near each end of the said strip, the forward edge surface of the said lugs being curved, as clearly shown in Fig. I.

The foot rest proper comprises a frame consisting of two parallel side members 15 and 16 joined at their forward ends by an Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 11, 1908.

Patented April 8, 1909.

Serial No. 437,932.

upholstered cross bar 17, which constitutes the foot rest portion of the said frame. A portion of the width of each of the side members 15 and 16 is cut away from its forward portion thus leaving shoulders 18 and 19 respectively, as clearly shown in the drawings, and the cross bar 17 does not extend over the said shoulders but leaves a space between its edge surfaces and the respective edge surfaces of the side members 15 and 16. The side members 15 and 16 project rearwardly, at a right angular plane to the forward portion of the chair, and engage their respective sides of the opening 11 in such a manner as to permit of an easy sliding movement of the frame within the said opening.

The numerals 20 and 21 indicate guide members extending from the opening 11 to the rear portion of the chair where they are secured by any ordinary fastening, the guide member 20 lightly engaging the side member 15 and the guide member 21 lightly engaging the side member 16 and it is obvious that the frame is designed for an easy sliding movement on the said guide members.

The numerals 22 and 23 indicate overlapping ears, secured to the side members 15 and 16 respectively, their overlapping portions engaging the upper surface of the guide members 20 and 21 respectively, for the obvious purpose of constituting additional sup ports for the frame.

The numeral 24 indicates a cross bar, preferably made of steel, which is secured. at right angles to the under surface of the side members 15 and 16 and near the rear ends thereof. The said cross bar extends outwardly to the outer edge of each side of the seat and then each end. bends upward, as shown in the drawings, and extends be tween the seat and its respective side of the chair, and. on the upper portion of said cross bar I have provided knobs or handles 25. I have also provided a guide 26 on the central portion of the said cross bar, said guide being designed to lightly engage the inner portion of the guide members 20 and 21.

The relation between the mounting of the lugs 13 and 14. and the side members 15 and 16 respectively is such that when the shoulders 18 and 19 engage their respective lugs it will force the hinged upholstered piece 12 upwardly and thereafter, during the outward progress of the frame, the lugs 13 and 14 will ride upon the upper surface of the side members 15 and 16 respectively and thus form supports for said hinged piece.

In practica operation, if a person reclining in a chair fitted with my improved foot rest, desires the use of the foot rest, he drops his hands to the side of the chair and grasps the handles 25 on the cross bar 24 and pushes outwardly. Prior to this time the foot rest has been entirely hidden under the seat of the chair, the hinged, member 12 hanging downwardly and completely covering the opening 11, the lugs 13 and 14 having passed through the said opening as the end portion 12 was in progress of closing. The person then pushes the said cross bar outwardly and this forces the frame outwardly and when the cross bar 17 engages the rear face of the swinging member 12, and as the shoulders 18 and 19 engage the curved edge surface of the lugs 1.3 and 14 respectively, the said hinged member 12- is forced upwardly and, as before stated, as long thereafter as the foot rest remains out the said hinged member will be supported in the position shown in Fig. I. It is obvious that the withdrawing of the foot rest will release the member 12 and it will then, by gravity, resume its position covering the opening 11.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a chair frame I formed with an opening at its front, a pair of ends cut-away to form shoulders which exsaid lugs having flat faces adapted to seat on said side members to thereby maintain said strip in horizontal position, and a second cross bar secured to each of said side members, said cross bar having its ends projecting beyond the chair sides so as to be capable of being operated.

2. In combination with a chair frame formed with an opening at its front, a pair of spaced side members, a crossbar carried by said members, a pair of guide members which engage the inner side faces of said side members, a strip hinged to said frame so as to close said. opening, lugs on the under face of the strip at each end thereof, said lugs having curved parts, said side members being formed with shoulders adjacent their front ends, which shoulders are adapted to engage said curved faces of the lugs to move the strip outwardly and upwardly, said lugs being formed to seat on the top faces of said side members to thereby sustain the strip in horizontal position, and a second cross bar secured to said side members, said second bar having a central guide to engage with the inner faces of said guide members and having its ends turned upwardly and extending on the outer faces of the frame sides.

3. In combination with a chair frame having a front opening, a hinged strip to close said opening, a pair of side members which slide in said opening, a cross bar secured to said side members, said side members being cut-away at their front ends to form shoulders, and means 011 the strip for engagement with said shoulders, said means being engaged. by said shoulders and caused to move the strip outwardly and then seating on the top faces of said members to be sustained in horizontal position in alinement with the chair seat.

FRANK C. TATE.

Vitnesses BLANCHE SEDGwIoK, EDWIN ROE. 

